You can get a good, fair-paying job in the oil and gas industry and work in an industry that our country depends on. The pay in these jobs, however, is often a reflection of the dangers inherent to such an occupation. The heavy equipment, toxic substances, and risk of fire and explosion are ever-present. It is not uncommon for an oil industry worker to be seriously injured on the job.
Sometimes, unfortunately, these injuries are the result of involvement in an accident that could have been prevented with the proper safety measures. If you are an oil industry worker and you are ever hurt on the job, it is important that you know what to do next as the steps you take can be vital to protecting your legal rights to recover financial compensation for the harm you have incurred.
If You Were Hurt on the Job, Take These Critical Steps
First, you should realize something. The company you work for and their insurers will try what they can to avoid responsibility for the accident that left you injured. They will work tirelessly to try and get out of paying you what you deserve for the injuries and losses you have suffered. While they work towards undermining your claim and avoiding responsibility, you should be taking steps to protect your claim and working to strengthen it.
This all starts with notifying your supervisor as soon as possible after the accident occurs. Timely notice is required in order for you to collect workers’ compensation benefits. It also documents the accident as well as your injuries. A report will be generated as a result of you notifying your supervisor which will contain information such as the timing of the accident and what happened. It also shows that you took the accident seriously and took steps to notify the proper parties of what happened.
After the accident, you should make the demand to treat with a medical care provider of your choice. Get checked out by a doctor. This is true even if you think your injuries are minor. You would be surprised at how many serious medical conditions can present with only minor symptoms at first. You would also be surprised how some relatively minor injuries can become serious when left untreated. Get the necessary medical evaluation and comply with treatments recommended by your doctor. This will not only help properly address your injuries, but the medical records generated as a result will be critical evidence of your injuries and treatment, as well as your prognosis for recovery.
Keep a journal documenting what happened in the accident and following the accident. Detail your medical treatment and your symptoms. Has the accident and your injuries impacted your life? Write all of this down. If you took any pictures of your injuries or the accident scene, be sure to keep these as well.
It is likely that your company or its insurance company will contact you to give a formal statement. They may even ask you to sign some paperwork or try to get you to accept money to settle. Do not do any of these things without first consulting your own legal counsel. Do not accept any money unless it is your regular paycheck. Do not post about your accident on social media or talk about it with your co-workers.
Personal Injury Attorneys
What do you do after being injured in an oil industry accident? Call the team at Pringle & Herigstad. We fight for the injured. We stand up to the big oil companies and their insurers to help our clients the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Contact us today.
